Wreath laying Program on LBJ Ranch Announced for August 27

Date: August 16, 2007
Contact: Sherry Justus, 830 868-7128, ext. 245

Stonewall, TX – Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park and Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site invite the public to attend a program honoring former President Johnson on Monday, August 27 at approximately 10:30 a.m. in the Johnson family cemetery on the LBJ Ranch. For thirty-four years, the Johnson family has made arrangements for a commemorative program including a wreath laying, a vocalist and a guest speaker who knew President Johnson personally.

This year, Joseph A. Califano, Jr. will speak and Colonel Richard M. Clark, U.S. Air Force, will present the wreath.

Mr. Califano was appointed Special Assistant to the President in July 1965. In this position, which he held until President Johnson retired from office in January 1969, he served as the president’s top domestic aide. He has also served as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare from 1977-1979. He is founding chairman of the board and president of the National Center on Addition and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), where he continues to work at present. He also serves as adjunct professor of public health in Columbia’s Medical School and School of Public Health and is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He was founding chairman of the board of the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1982 and 1983, Mr. Califano served as special counsel to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, heading the investigation of allegation of drug use and sexual misconduct involving Members of Congress and Congressional pages. He is the author of ten books, the most recent being High Society—How Substance Abuse Ravages America and What to Do About It. His book, The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson, is still in print. He is the recipient of numerous honorary degrees and awards, including the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal (the highest civilian award of the Army) and the Distinguished Service Medal of the Department of Defense.

Colonel Clark is the Commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The wing maintains approximately 145 aircraft and includes an infrastructure in excess of $2 billion in support of a workforce of approximately 12,000 active duty, reservists and civilians. Colonel Clark graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1986. Prior to his current assignment, he was a student at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He is a command pilot with 4,000 hours of flying time, primarily in the B-1 bomber.

Those wishing to attend the wreath laying/birthday commemoration must arrive at LBJ State Park and Historic Site's visitor center, one mile east of Stonewall on Highway 290, in time to catch a 10:00 a.m. bus to the cemetery. In honor of President Johnson, this commemoration and all subsequent tours of the LBJ Ranch on August 27th will be free of charge.

Throughout the day, light refreshments may be enjoyed at Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site’s exhibit hall. In addition, the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, an authentic representation of a Texas Hill Country German farm circa 1915, will host old time games from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both the refreshments and participation in the games are free of charge.

For further information, please call [phone], ext. 244 or [phone].